Are you an illegal and have a Facebook? Probably not such a good idea. After a 4-year investigation by the New York Police Department (NYPD), 103 gang members were arrested and charged thanks to evidence they had posted on their Facebook.
Five hundred NYPD officers took part in the operation that took place in the West Harlem area on Wednesday morning to arrest 40 of those accused.
Police told reporters that 23 other alleged gang members were still being sought. Most of those arrested were between 15 and 20 years old, while the oldest was in their 30s.
Prosecutors say those arrested belong to three gangs: the Make It Happen Boys, Money Avenue, and the rival gang 3 Staccs.
The gangs had waged a war over the past four years, resulting in two homicides, 19 non-fatal shootings and about 50 other shooting incidents, according to a press release issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance R.
The arrests were made possible because the younger gangsters used to document their actions on social media, specifically Facebook. Instant messages, cell phone videos, and other evidence point to their guilt.
According to Vice News, the word “Facebook” appears 162 times in the first indictment (PDF) and 171 times in the second (PDF).
The following is the announcement from the New York Police Department via Twitter:
[tweet_embed id=474198773791739904]
